Lifting apparatus



1945' o. E.. DEMPSEY LIFTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Aug. 24. 1942 /N 1/5 N TOR. Oscar E. Demps'gy ATTORNEY LIFTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 4, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFTING APPARATUS Oscar E. Dempsey, Tulsa, Okla. Application August 24, 1942, Serial No. 456,106

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a pneumatic lifting apparatus, and more particularly but not by way of limitation to a pneumatic pump for displacing liquids through the medium of motive pressure fluid.

It is an important object of this invention to use such an apparatus to displace liquids, such as heavy viscous corrosive liquids by discharging the liquid through only one valve outlet, and at no time permitting it to come in contact with the actuating mechanism of the lifting apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lifting apparatus for displacing liquids in such a manner that the liquid being lifted only contacts a pilot valve and the motive pressure fluid utilized as a lifting medium.

And still an additional object of this invention is to displace liquids in such manner from a sump or bottom filling chamber so as to allow expeditious bleeding off of the residue motive pressure and thereby maintain a substantial continual flow of liquid to be lifted from the chamber.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates my invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the lifting unit.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the different position of the actuating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on lines 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on lines 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on lines 55 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on lines 6-6 of Fig.

Fig. '7 is a view taken on lines 1-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a specific adaptation of the apparatus.

The lifting unit 2 comprises an outer tubular housing 3 having a cylindrical manifold 4 fixed therein and extending substantially throughout the length thereof. In the upper. portion of manifold 4 is a stationary valve housing 5 in which is loosely disposed an elongated main valve 6. The lower end of the housing 5 receives a threaded collar 1 carrying a pair of pivotal or latch members 8 secured thereto by studs 9. The collar 1 has a pair of diametrically opposed slots In (Fig. 4) to allow free movement of the lower ends of members 8'toward and away from the manifold 4 for a purpose as will be hereinafter explained. A hollow cylindrical slide valve H is disposed in the manifold 4 below the members B. Slidable in the valve H is a cylindrical piston valve l2 wholly confined within the outer valve II. Below the lowermost end of valve H and manifold 4 is a stationary housing l3 in which is fixedly arranged a cylindrical manifold M having a bore I5. Immediately below the manifold I4 is a solid pilot valve I6 adapted to travel between the bottom of manifold M and a shoulder I! (Fig. 2) provided in the housing l3. Valve I6 controls only the discharge of pumped liquid, as will be hereinafter explained.

A housing nut 18 is secured to the lower end of the housing 3 to secure the unit in the housing between the nut I8 and an upper plug IS. A fishing neck 20 is integral with the plug I9 for use in moving the unit to and from its environment. A cylindrical pipe or tubing 2| supported by the nut 18 extends downwardly therefrom into a filling chamber for receiving the liquid to be lifted. Such chamber is diagrammatically shown at B0 in Fig. 8.

Referring to the upper portion of the unit 2; immediately below the valve 6 is a valve push rod 22 (Fig. 2) having an upper shaft 23 and a lower shaft 24. The push rod extends loosely through an aperture 25 of collar 1 and downwardly between the latch member 8 into the interior of the cylindrical valves H and I2. A sleeve 26 loosely surrounds the lower shaft 24 and is provided at its top with a V-shaped groove 21 for a purpose as will be hereinafter explained. The sleeve 26 is provided with shoulders 28 for anchoring one end of a spring 29 having its opposite end resting at 30 on valve [2.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the different operating positions of the unit. Fig. 1 shows the upper valve 6 in open position, while Fi 2 shows such valve in closed position along with the complementary positions of the auxiliary valves.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, while the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2; motive pressure fluid is directed upwardly from a constant source (not shown) through the pas.- sageway 3| and chamber 3la adjacent top of valve 6 and discharges through a bleed port 32 in the valve and leaks between valve 6 andits bore through 25 into the chamber 33 provided by manifold 4 between valves 6 and I2. It will be understood that the fit of the valve 6 and its bore, especially the short periphery of the valve below the horizontal leg portion of the port 32 is such that supply pressure fluid discharging from port 32 is allowed to leak between the outer periphery of valve 6 and its bore through the aperture 25 and into the chamber 33. The fit of the push rod 22 in the aperture 25 is suchas to permit leakage of fluid through the aperture 25 into the chamber 33. It will be apparent that a small amount of pressure fluid may leak into ports 43 and into the pump chamber, however, such leakage is not sufficient to warrant any displacement of liquid from the pump chamber. In this position a differential pressure across the valve 6 has been decreased as will be hereinafter explained, so that the pressure aided by tension spring 29 causes movement of piston valve I2 downward until the valve port 34 moves past a port 35 provided in the slide valve II, thereby preventing escape of the fluid from chamber 33v Leakage pressure flowing into chamber 33 will continue the movement of the valve I2 downward to where its bottom 36 contacts the top of valve sleeve 31, which in turn contacts follower rod 38 guided by manifold I4, to move the liquid discharge valve I6 downward past the discharge ports 39 and 43 providing communication between the pipe 2I and a liquid discharge conduit such as shown at in Fig. 8. Continued downward movement of the valve I 2, causes it to contact the apertured base H of valve II thereby moving the valve ,II downward out of locking contact with the latch members 8 (Fig. 1). Valve I I is held by friction and is not moved downward of its own weight during the preliminary movement of valve I2. During the downward movement of valve I2 the sleeve 26 is prevented from moving downward by the tension of the spring 26.

As soon as the top of valve I I moves below the shoulders 42 of the latches 8., the latch levers are free to swing outward toward the manifold 4 thereby allowing downward movement of the shaft 23 0f the push rod 22. Push rod 22 is then moved downward by valve 6 actuated by the motive pressure fluid in chamber 3Ia. Downward movement of the valve 6 to open position (Fig. 1) opens ports 43 for directing motive fluid into a passageway 44 provided in manifold 4 through which it travels downwardly to be discharged into a chamber 45 below the slide valve II. Passageway 44 communicates with chamber 45 through port 46 provided in manifold I3, and is discharged from chamber 45 through a port 41 communicating with a passageway 48 (Figs. 6 and 7) in manifold I 3, through outlet ports (not shown) in communication with the liquid to be displaced, in chamber 60, for example.

With the upper valve 6 in open position (Fig. l), the lower piston valve I6 has been moved downward to close ports 33, 40. In order for the motive pressure fluid discharging through conduit 48 to displace liquid from a lower filling chamber communicating with the flow pipe 2 I, it is necessary that the differential pressure on both sides of the valve I6 be greater than the differential pressure between chambers 33 and 45. The manifold I3 hasa small bleed port I3a providing communication between one of the ports 39 and a chamber I6a above the valve I6 in order to measure any pressure that may be acting against the top of the valve I6 due to displaced fluid discharged through outlet ports 40. It will be understood that the relationships of pressures are commensurate with the areas of the various pistons orpiston valves and the ratio between them is a matter of choice depending upon the environment of the liquid to be displaced. With valve I6 closed and valve 6 open (Fig. 1), it is to be noted that the latch members 8 are swung outwardly and prevent any upward movement of the valve II as long as the rod 22 remains in its lowermost position. With an increase of differential pressure across valve I6, pressure fluid and liquid in chamber 60 moves valve I6 upward to permit displacement of liquid through flow pipe 2| and discharge ports 39 and 40, simultaneous with the upward movement of the rod 38 and follower 3'! to move the piston valve I2 upward to a point where the port 34 (Fig. 2) moves into communication with th port 35 which in turn communicates with a. passageway 50 through the annulus 5| and ports 5| a. The passageway 50 is in communication with outlet ports (not shown) exposed to the atmosphere. With the valve I2 moved to this position motive fluid within the chamber 33 is bled or exhausted therefrom through communicating ports 30a, 34a in valve 2, into communicating ports 34 and 35, and then to the passageway 50 to atmosphere, thereby decreasing the differential between chambers 33 and 45. Upward movement of the valve I2 simultaneously moves push rod 22 upward which in turn moves valve 6 to an upper or closed position blocking off ports 43' (Fig. 2).

With the larger shaft 23 of rod 22 moving out of contact with the latches 8 the latter are swung inwardly by sleeve 26 (Fig. 2) to release and allo movement of valve II upwardly caused by a reversal of pressure difierential to a point where the top portion of valve II contacts the shoulders 52 of the members 8. In this position of the unit 2 th lower valve I6 has been opened to allow displacement of liquid through the flow pipe 2I and outlet ports 39 and 46. Immediately subsequent to the displacement of the liquid through ports 39, 40, the valve II moves to allow a predetermined rate of exhausting or bleeding off of the residue motive pressure fluid from passageway 48 and chamber 45 through the apertured base 4I, ports 53 and 5Ia into the exhaust passageway 50. It will be apparent that this residue motiv fluid is present in chamber 45 and in the liquid filling chamber 60. With the exhaust of motive pressure fluid, the differential between chambers 33 and 45 is decreased to such an extent that the tension spring 29 exerts sufflcient force to cause downward movement of the piston valve I2 thereby closing off port 34 from port 35 and passageway 56. In this position, the constantly maintained motive pressure fluid discharges through the bleed port 32 to immediately build up pressure and cause continued downward movement of valve I2, as heretofore explained. The increase in pressure in chamber 33 likewise acts against the top portion of valve II to start its movement downward in conjunction with the valve I2 contacting the top face of base 4| thereof, thereby releasing pivotal members 8 from a position shown in Fig. 2 to a position shown in Fig. 1 and thus allowing downward movement of rod 22 and valve 6 to open position and discharge of motive fluid into passageways 44 and 48 as heretofore described.

In operation it will be apparent that the hiting unit 2 may be utilized for the displacement of fluids in an oil well such as described in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 456,107, or may be utilized in other adaptations where it is necessary to displace liquids, e. g., a gravel pit or oil field sump pit and the like. In the latter adaptation as disclosed by th schematic Fig. 8 the unit 2 cooperates with a filling tank or displacement chamber 60" disposed in a pit 62 containing liquid. Liquid from the pit fills the tank through an inlet line 64 having a check valve 66 disposed therein. A motive pressure fluid supply line 68 communicates with the inlet passageway 3| of the unit 2, while a discharge line communicates With the discharge ports 40. An exhaust line 72 is in communication with the passageway 50, while a line 14 directs motive fluid from passageway into the filling chamber SE) for displacement of liquid therefrom through the flow pipe 2| as heretofore set forth.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention contemplates the lifting of liquids from a lower elevation to a higher elevation, and functions as a pneumatic pump supplying motive pressure fluid intermittently to a filling chamber containing fluids such as sludge, gravel, acid and other heavy viscous corrosive fluids that are discharged through one discharge outlet to a discharge line and at no time could come in contact with the operating or actuating mechanism of the lifting apparatus. Furthermore, the unit contemplates exhausting the residue motive pressure fluid to allow expeditious filling of a sump or bottom filling chamber and thereby maintaining constant and efficient operation of the lifting unit.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawing, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a lifting apparatus, a liquid displacement chamber therefor, said apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a main valve disposed in the manifold, motive fluid inlet means communicating with the valve, means responsive to one position of the valve for directing motive fluid into communication with the liquid displacement chamber, a liquid discharge valve moveable in response to motive fluid against the liquid to allow discharge of liquid from the chamber through a plurality of outlet ports, a piston valve moveable to bleed off residue motive fluid, a slide valve, a rod, a plurality of latch members, said slide valve moveable in response to one position of the main valve to move the piston valve to a, closed position relative to exhaust ports for bleeding residue motive fluid, said rod and latch members maintaining the piston valve in closed position during directing of motive fluid into communication with the liquid displacement chamher.

2. In combination with a pneumatic lifting apparatus for liquids and a liquid displacement chamber therefor, said apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a main valve disposed in the manifold, a rod, a pair of latch members cooperating with the rod, a plurality of slide valves. a supplemental valve normally closing off a plurality of outlet ports. said main valve moveable in response to motive fluid to direct the motive fluid through a passageway communicating with the liquid displacement chamber, said supplemental valve moveable to allow discharge of liquid through the outlet ports, said slide valves moveable in response to movement of the lower valve to allow bleeding off of residue motive fluid simultaneous with displacement of the liquid. said piston rod and pivotal members locking said main valve in closed position relative the passageway during bleeding off of the residue motive fluid.

3. In a lifting apparatus, a liquid displacement chamber therefor, said apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a main valve disposed in the'manifold, motive fluid inlet means communicating with the valve, means responsive to one position of the valve for directing motive fluid into communication with the liquid displacement chamber, a supplemental valve moveable to allow discharge of liquid from the chamber through a plurality of outlet ports in the housing, a piston valve moveable to bleed off residue motive fluid from the chamber through bleed off ports communicating therewith, a slide valve moveable in response to movement of the main and supplemental valves for controlling the position of the piston valve with respect to the bleed off ports.

4. A lifting apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a 'main valve disposed in the manifold, motive fluid inlet means commum'cating with the valve, a displacement chamber, means responsive to one position of the valve for directing motive fluid into communication with the liquid displacement chamber, a supplemental valve moveable in response to motive fluid against liquid to allow discharge of liquid through a plurality of outlet ports in the housing, means for bleeding ofi residue motive fluid during displacement of the liquid, and means moveable in response to movement of the main and supplemental valves for controlling the position of the bleed ofi means.

5. A lifting apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a main valve disposed in the manifold, motive fluid inlet means communicating with the valve, a filling chamber, means responsive to one position of the valve for directing motive fluid into communication with the filling chamber containing fluid to be displaced, a supplemental valve moveable to allow discharge of fluid from the filling chamber through a plurality of outlet ports in the housing, a piston valve moveable to bleed off residue motive fluid from the filling chamber, a slide valve moveable in response to one position of the main valve to move the piston valve to closed position relative to bleed oil ports in the manifold, and means for locking said piston valve in closed position during the displacement of the liquid from the chamber.

6. A lifting apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a main valve disposed in the manifold, motive fluid inlet means communicating with the valve, a filling chamber, means responsive to one position of the valve for directing motive fluid into communication with the filling chamber containing liquid to be displaced, a supplemental valve moveable to allow discharge of liquid from the filling chamber through a plurality of outlet ports in the housing, a piston valve moveable relative to bleed oif ports in the manifold to exhaust residue motive fluid from the filling chamber, a slide valve operated by variable positions of the main and supple mental valves for controlling the position of the piston valve with respect to the bleed off ports, and means for locking the piston valve in a controlled position.

'7. A lifting apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a main valve disposed in the manifold, motive fluid inlet means communicating with the valve, a filling chamber, means responsive to one position of the valve for directing motive fluid into communication with the filling chamber containing liquid to be displaced, a supplemental valve moveable to allow discharge of liquid from the filling chamber through a plurality of outlet ports in the housing, a. piston valve moveable relative to bleed ofi ports in the manifold to exhaust residue motive fluid from the filling chamber simultaneous with displacement of the liquid, a slide valve moveable in response to movement of the main and supplemental valves for controlling the position of the piston valve with respect to the bleed off ports, a rod, a pair of latch members cooperating therewith to maintain the main valve in closed position relative to the communicating means during open position of the supplemental valve.

8. A lifting apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a main valve disposed in the manifold, motive fluid inlet means communicating with the valve, a filling chamber, means responsive to one position of the valve for directing motive fluid into communication with the filling chamber containing liquid to be displaced, a supplemental valve moveable to allow discharge of liquid from the filling chamber through a plurality of outlet ports in the housing, a piston valve moveable relative to bleed off ports in the manifold to exhaust residue motive fluid from the filling chamber during displacement of the liquid, a slide valve moveable in response to movement of the main and supplemental valves for controlling the position of the piston valve with respect to the bleed off ports, a rod, latch members cooperating with the rod to maintain the supplemental valve in closed position during an open position of the main valve with respect to the communicating means.

9. In combination with a lifting apparatus and a liquid displacement chamber therefor, said apparatus comprising a housing having a manifold therein, a main valve disposed in the manifold, motive fluid inlet means communicating with the valve, means responsive to one position of the valve for directing motive fluid into communication with the liquid displacement chamber, a bleed port in the valve to direct motive fluid to an opposite face thereof and into a chamber in the manifold, a rod, a pair of latch members cooperating therewith, resilient means cooperating with the rod for closing off the chamber with respect to exhaust ports to provide increased pressure in the chamber, a slide valve responsive to the increased pressure in the chamber to move a piston valve to closed position relative to the exhaust ports, a supplemental valve normally closing off a plurality of outlet ports communicating with the liquid displacement chamber, said supplemental valve moveable in response to motive fluid against the liquid to allow discharge of the liquid through the outlet ports, said latch members cooperating with the rod to lock the piston valve against upward movement and prevent exhaust of residue fluid during displacement of the liquid. 10. In combination with a lifting apparatus and a liquid displacement chamber communicating therewith, said apparatus comprising valve means communicating with fluid inlet means in turn communicating with the chamber for periodically directing constantly maintained motive fluid into the chamber for displacing liquid therefrom, means moveable to allow discharge of liquid from the chamber through a plurality of outlet ports, means moveable to bleed oiT residue motive fluid from the chamber through a plurality of bleed ports after displacement of the liquid, and means moveable in response to the movement of the valve means and the first mentioned means for controlling the position of the second mentioned means with respect to the bleed ports.

OSCAR E. DEMPSEY. 

